Phytosphigosine-1-phosphate increases sensitivity of EGF-dependent cell proliferation.

The dermis is composed of dermal fibroblasts and various synthesized extracellular matrices. Proliferation of these cells is important to skin structure homeostasis. Therefore, human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) growth factors have been previously evaluated.

Growth mechanism of cubic MgO granule via common ion effect.

MgO is a typical wide bandgap insulator with its excellent thermodynamic stability, low dielectric constant, and low refractive index for growing various thin film materials. For this application, it is worth developing and understanding suitable growth method for MgO nanostructure. In this study, cubic MgCO3 have been successfully prepared via hydrolysis control of magnesium salt and alkaline solution with common ions to form nanoflake assembly.

Reducing the pain of microemulsion propofol injections: a double-blind, randomized study of three methods of tourniquet and lidocaine.

Background: Although the new formulation of lipid-free microemulsion propofol (MP) has some advantages over the lipid emulsion, it reportedly produces more injection pain than lipid-based propofol. Intravenous lidocaine with application of a rubber tourniquet before administration of propofol is considered to be the best method for reducing injection pain; however, this technique is not perfect.

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different methods of tourniquet application and lidocaine administration on MP injection pain.

Effects of non-paretic arm exercises using a tubing band on abdominal muscle activity in stroke patients.

Background: Abdominal strengthening exercises are important for stroke patients; however, there is a lack of research on therapeutic exercises for increasing abdominal muscle activity in stroke patients.

Objective: We investigated the effects of non-paretic arm exercises using a tubing band on abdominal muscle activity in stroke patients.

Methods: In total, 18 hemiplegic subjects (13 males, 5 females) were recruited.

Comparison of primary and secondary metabolites for suitability to discriminate the origins of Schisandra chinensis by GC/MS and LC/MS.

Discrimination of the origins of plants as traditional medicinal herbs or functional foods is important to accurately comprehend their therapeutic effects or to appropriately utilize their qualities because different environmental backgrounds can induce diverse metabolic changes. In the present study, the origins of the herbal medicine Schisandra chinensis were differentiated using two instrumental approaches, GC/MS and LC/MS. The acquired data were processed using various programs to detect metabolites and statistically examined to measure the suitability of the methods.

Influence of W-doping on electrochemical performance of spinel LiMn2O4.

The structural and electrochemical properties of W-doped LiMn2O4 and LiAl0.025Mn1.975O4 have been investigated to determine the role of W.

Insecticide susceptibility of field-collected populations of Culex tritaeniorhynchus in the Republic of Korea.

The toxicities of 10 insecticides were examined against late third instar Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) using the direct-contact mortality bioassay. Six geospatially-distant field mosquitoes were collected from Chuncheon-si, Hwaseong, Seosan. Jeonju, Daegu, and Busan in the Republic of Korea.

Discrimination between genetically identical peony roots from different regions of origin based on 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabolomics: determination of the geographical origins and estimation of the mixing proportions of blended samples.

Sixty peony root training samples of the same age were collected from various regions in Korea and China, and their genetic diversity was investigated for 23 chloroplast intergenic space regions. All samples were genetically indistinguishable, indicating that the DNA-based techniques employed were not appropriate for determining the samples' regions of origin. In contrast, (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics coupled with multivariate statistical analysis revealed a clear difference between the metabolic profiles of the Korean and Chinese samples.

POEMS syndrome presenting with acute demyelinating polyneuropathy: increased terminal latency indices and uniform demyelination.

We herein report a case of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome presenting with acute Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)-like features. The patient was healthy, except for mild dilated cardiomyopathy. She was unable to walk within ten days of the onset of weakness.

Unexpected tracheal narrowing during general anesthesia in the prone position of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patient -A report of two cases-.

Unexpected tracheal narrowing was observed in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy during a corrective operation for thoracolumbar scoliosis. As the operating time progressed, peak airway pressure and end-tidal CO2 increased gradually in the prone position. We found a floppy portion of the trachea using fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FB) in the prone position.

Right upper lobe tracheal bronchus: anesthetic challenge in one-lung ventilated patients -A report of three cases-.

Tracheal bronchus (TB) is an aberrant, accessary or ectopic bronchus arising almost exclusively from the right side of the tracheal wall above the carina. In our center, 673 bronchoscopic examinations were performed from 2009 to 2011 in patients undergoing one lung ventilation (OLV) and 3 TB were found. The incidence of a TB at bronchoscopy was 0.

Bronchial obstruction by tumor embolus of contralateral lung during pneumonectomy: report of a case.

Bronchial obstruction due to a tumor embolus of the contralateral lung during pneumonectomy is an uncommon and fatal complication. According to previous cases, a bronchial balloon of double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) could prevent a dislodged tumor from traveling to the contralateral lung. We experienced a tumor embolism from the bronchus with cancer to the other bronchus despite applying DLT.

Three species of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) newly recorded from the Republic of Korea.

Light trap surveys of adult Culicoides Latreille in the Republic of Korea (ROK) resulted in the capture of three previously unreported species, C. nasuensis Kitaoka, C. pallidulus Yu and C.

Mosquito species composition and Plasmodium vivax infection rates for Korean army bases near the demilitarized zone in the Republic of Korea, 2011.

Vivax malaria is a significant military and civilian health threat in northern Republic of Korea (ROK). Mosquito collections were performed at two ROK army installations, Paju near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) using black light traps in 2011. The DMZ, a 4 km wide border, is the northernmost point of the ROK and separates the ROK from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Suppression of phase transition in LiTb(0.01)Mn(1.99)O4 cathodes with fast Li+ diffusion.

The structural characteristics of terbium-doped spinel LiTb(x)Mn(2-x)O(4) related to the electrochemical performance were studied as the cathode in lithium-ion batteries. We chose terbium as the dopant, which is a well-known mixed-valent cation (3+/4+), expecting that it would provide structural stabilization and improve the power density. LiTb(x)Mn(2-x)O(4) revealed that terbium doping significantly affected the lattice structure and lithium-ion diffusion during charge-discharge cycles, resulting in an enhanced capacity retention and rate capability at an extremely small amount of terbium doping (LiTb(0.

Synthesis of MgO granule and its precursors via common ion effect.

It is well known that the shape and size of inorganic nanostructures have much influence on their optical, electrical and physical properties. MgO is a promising material with potential applications in a variety of fields such as catalyst support, reinforcing reagent and good component in superconductors. In this study, flower-like Mg(OH)2 and cubic MgCO3 have been successfully prepared via hydrolysis control of magnesium salt and alkaline solution with common ions under hydrothermal condition by the formation of nano-platelets assembly.

The effect of epidural resiniferatoxin in the neuropathic pain rat model.

Background: Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is a potent synthetic agonist for transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1), which has a selectivity for antinociception. The analgesic effect of epidural RTX in a rat model of neuropathic pain has not yet been studied.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of epidural RTX on neuropathic pain in a rat model to mechanical and thermal stimulation.

Seasonal abundance of biting midges, Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), collected at cowsheds in the southern part of the Republic of Korea.

Black light traps were used to measure the seasonal and geographical distribution of Culicoides spp. (biting midges or no-see-ums) at 9 cowsheds in the southern half of the Republic of Korea (ROK) from June through October 2010. A total of 25,242 Culicoides females (24,852; 98.

The effects of hydrogen sulfide under sevoflurane administration against ischemia and reperfusion injury in isolated rat heart.

Background: Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) produces a protective effect against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. Sevoflurane, which is used for anesthesia in cardiac problem patients, also has a protective effect. This study is designed to reveal the effects of H(2)S under sevoflurane using rat hearts.

Phytosphingosine-1-phosphate represses the hydrogen peroxide-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in human dermal fibroblasts through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Dermal fibroblasts are differentiated mesenchymal cells that regulate the extracellular matrix through the production of dermis components. Dermal fibroblasts can be damaged by reactive oxygen species induced by ultraviolet rays and chemicals. In addition to its effects on the dermis, oxidative stress poses a major threat to organisms and is believed to play an essential role in many disease processes.

The cardioprotective effect of microemulsion propofol against ischemia and reperfusion injury in isolated rat heart.

Background: Lipid-emulsion propofol (LP) has cardioprotective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury, but it has lipid-related side effects. Microemulsion propofol (MP) is a lipid-free propofol emulsified with 10% purified poloxamer 188 (PP188). PP188 is a nonionic surfactant and has cardioprotective effects.

Short-term effects of pulsed radiofrequency on chronic refractory cervical radicular pain.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of pulsed radiofrequency on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in patients with chronic refractory cervical radicular pain.

Method: Fifteen patients (13 males, 2 females; mean age, 55.9 years) with chronic radicular pain due to cervical disc herniation or foraminal stenosis refractory to active rehabilitative management, including transforaminal cervical epidural steroid injection and exercise, were selected.

The neurological safety of intrathecal acyclovir in rats.

Background: Effective early antiviral treatments reduce both acute zoster pain and the risk of postherpetic neuralgia. The authors hypothesized that the direct neuraxial administration of acyclovir could provide superior drug application to the spinal neural structures with a higher viral burden and have various advantages over the other routes of drug administration in terms of required doses, side effects, and efficacy.

Objective: To know whether intrathecal acyclovir injection is neurologically and histopathologically safe or not.

Spontaneous Vertebral Reduction during the Procedure of Kyphoplasty in a Patient with Kummell's Disease.

Kummell's disease is a spinal disorder characterized by delayed post-traumatic collapse of a vertebral body with avascular necrosis. Although definitive treatment for Kummell's disease has not been established, it has been reported that percutaneous vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty has shown good results. However, these procedures are not recommended for severely collapsed vertebral bodies because of the risk of cement leakage or technical difficulties.